Canada Immigration News

John Dal Broi pauses to count the nationalities of the 100 workers employed at his family winery in Griffith, southern New South Wales (NSW). "We employ a lot of Indians, a lot of Turks, Afghans. We have some Filipina girls, South African, Dutch, German. We have the lot. I must sit down and work it out one day." Asa Wahlquist of The Australian reports. Griffith, a pretty and prosperous town on the Murrumbidgee River, wears the mantle of the most multicultural country town in NSW.

Canada's Conservative Party led by Stephen Harper won the Canadian national elections Monday and ended 13 years of Liberal rule. It is a victory that is expected to move Canada rightward on social and economic issues and lead to improved ties with the United States.

During the campaign, Harper pledged to cut the red tape in social welfare programs, lower the national sales tax from 7 percent to 5 percent and grant more autonomy and federal funding to Canada's 13 provinces and territories.

As Canada goes to the polls on 23 January, nearly 45 candidates of Indian origin will be running. The candidates have spent the past few weeks trying to attract the immigrant community with speeches in their native Hindi and Punjabi, as well as making promises to take up issues close to their hearts.

Immigrants in Canada have traditionally supported the ruling Liberal party. However, in this election, immigrants appear split.

The 2010 Winter Olympics to be held in Canada are four years away but already concerns about labour shortages and ballooning construction costs are prompting Canada to scour other countries for skilled labour.

Organizers, politicians and construction experts say they're increasingly worried that a shortage of skilled workers will pose serious problems for the Games.

Canada's two main federal parties, running neck and neck in the latest polls, promised to cut immigration fees, hoping to attract support from newcomers ahead of a January 23 election.

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper promised Wednesday to immediately halve a 975-Canadian-dollar (849-US-dollar) immigration landing fee, then continue reducing it over the course of his government's mandate.